10 Types of eCommerce Business Models

The way we shop has never been the same before. It was not much before that we had stormed the markets, fought, bargained, hassled while shopping in the market. As things started to change in terms of technology and globalization kicked in bringing in more information and trends from across the globe, people started moving from offline to online mode for almost each and everything. Hence the rise of different e-commerce business models has been formed.

Spotlight

Lamps Plus

Lamps Plus is the nation's largest specialty lighting retailer. Founded in 1976, the Los Angeles based privately held company maintains a thriving e-commerce site and operates more than three dozen retail stores across the western United States.

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POS Retail

Streamlining Product Catalogs: Best PIM Software Unveiled

Article | May 10, 2024

Explore the best PIM software solutions for operational excellence. Understand how efficient product content management elevates ecommerce experiences and drives businesses forward. Contents 1 Mastering Product Data Complexity 2 Elite PIM Software Arsenal 2.1 inriver 2.2 Feedonomics 2.3 Salsify 2.4 Stibo STEP 2.5 Pimberly 2.6 Dynamicweb eCommerce Suite 2.7 Creative Force 2.8 censhare 2.9 Brandquad 2.10 Netcore Unbxd PIM 3 Envisioning the Future of PIM Strategy 1 Mastering Product Data Complexity In the digital age, where ecommerce and online presence are pivotal for business success, managing product information efficiently is more important than ever. The need for robust Product Information Management (PIM) software has become imperative as companies grapple with an ever-increasing volume of product data and a growing number of sales channels. PIM software offers a unified solution to manage product data, streamline catalog management, improve customer experience, and ultimately drive sales. At the heart of PIM lies its ability to centralize product information, providing a single source of truth that feeds into all retail and digital marketing channels. This centralized approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures consistency in product information, which is crucial for maintaining brand integrity across diverse platforms. By leveraging the best PIM software, businesses can rapidly adapt to market changes, update product listings in real-time, and deliver accurate product information to customers, thereby reducing return rates and increasing customer satisfaction. The implementation of the right PIM software is a game-changer for businesses aiming to refine their product management workflows. Optimal PIM systems are designed to address the multifaceted nature of product data management, offering features that consolidate disparate information into a unified repository. This consolidation maintains data accuracy, a core component that directly influences customer trust and business credibility. Moreover, PIM software automates the process of data collection and dissemination. Automation reduces the manual labor associated with data management, allowing businesses to focus on strategic initiatives that drive growth and competitiveness. By streamlining data processes, PIM tools not only facilitate operational efficiency but also empower businesses to respond swiftly to market changes and customer needs. Fundamentally, mastering product data complexity through PIM software is not just about managing information but about transforming how businesses interact with their data. It's about creating a robust framework that supports scalability, enhances customer experience, and promotes brand consistency across all digital touchpoints. 2 Elite PIM Software Arsenal For decision-makers, identifying the best PIM software is crucial for optimizing product catalog management. Here's an overview of an elite PIM software arsenal, offering insights into each tool's capabilities and benefits: 2.1 Inriver Inriver PIM is a formidable tool tailored to the demands of omnichannel commerce professionals. It enables frictionless buying experiences by providing complete and consistent product data, including sustainability information. It goes beyond the initial sale, enhancing personalized digital experiences, building buyer loyalty, and ensuring compliance and traceability. The key features of Inriver PIM can be encapsulated as follows: 2.1.1 Centralized Product Information Management Unified Data Hub: Acts as the definitive point of reference for all product information, guaranteeing uniformity throughout various sales outlets. Multilingual Support: Facilitates product information management in multiple languages, expanding global reach. 2.1.2 Enhanced Omnichannel Experience Frictionless Buyer Journeys: Delivers seamless and cohesive buying experiences across all channels, from online to in-store. Customer Engagement: Enhances personalized digital experiences, fostering loyalty and repeat business. 2.1.3 Data Quality and Compliance Comprehensive Data Integrity: Maintains high-quality, accurate product data, including sustainability details, to meet regulatory standards. Traceability and Compliance: Ensures products meet industry and market-specific compliance requirements. 2.1.4 Streamlined Operations and Analytics Efficiency in Syndication: Automates the distribution of product information to various channels, streamlining operations. Actionable Insights: Leverages analytics to improve business productivity and market responsiveness. 2.1.5 Flexibility and Accessibility User-Friendly Interface: Offers an intuitive platform that is accessible to users of varying technical skill levels. Customizable Workflows: Adapts to business processes with flexible, configurable workflows to meet unique needs. 2.2 Feedonomics Feedonomics combines cutting-edge technology with expert service to optimize and manage product feeds across multiple e-commerce channels and marketplaces. It addresses the complexities of online product listing and advertising, helping users enhance visibility, improve efficiency, and boost sales. 2.2.1 Comprehensive Feed Optimization Dynamic Data Transformation: Automates the customization of product data to meet the unique requirements of each marketplace and advertising platform. Advanced Rule Engine: Allows for the creation of sophisticated rules to dynamically optimize titles, descriptions, and other product attributes for better search visibility and conversion. 2.2.2 Full-Service Management Expert Feed Management: A dedicated team of feed specialists provides hands-on support for feed optimization, error handling, and strategic advice. 24/7 Monitoring and Support: Ensures continuous operation with proactive monitoring and immediate resolution of issues, backed by round-the-clock expert assistance. 2.2.3 Multichannel Integration Global Marketplace Reach: Seamlessly lists products on over 1000+ global marketplaces and advertising channels, including Google Shopping, Amazon, Facebook, and more. Seamless Platform Integration: Offers robust integrations with major ecommerce platforms and ERPs, facilitating smooth data synchronization and management. 2.2.4 Performance Analytics and Insights Actionable Analytics: Delivers insights into feed performance, highlighting opportunities for optimization and growth. ROI Tracking: Measures the impact of feed optimizations on sales and advertising ROI, enabling data-driven decision-making. 2.2.5 Customized Solutions Personalized Setup and Optimization: Tailors feed management strategies to meet specific business needs and goals, enhancing product visibility and sales potential. Data Governance and Compliance: Ensures product data meets channel-specific requirements and adheres to data quality standards. 2.3 Salsify Salsify's PXM Platform has revolutionized product presentation in the digital domain. By amalgamating product content management with an extensive commerce ecosystem, it assures that brands deliver top-tier shopping experiences everywhere online. Its PXM platform centralizes product content and automates critical processes. Thus, it ensures the best possible product experiences at every selling destination. 2.3.1 Comprehensive Product Content Management Unified Product Information: Centralizes data to create a single source of truth for all product information, ensuring consistency across platforms. Digital Asset Management: Integrates and organizes digital assets like images and videos with product listings, enhancing the visual appeal of product presentations. 2.3.2 Expansive Commerce Ecosystem Integration Seamless Channel Syndication: Connects with a vast network of retail, marketplace, and ecommerce platforms to facilitate effortless product listing and updates. Dynamic Data Syndication: Automatically adapts product information to meet the unique requirements of each sales channel, improving listing accuracy and compliance. 2.3.3 Automation and Efficiency Workflow Automation: Streamlines operations with automated workflows for product information management, reducing manual efforts and enhancing productivity. Optimization Tools: Features AI-driven recommendations for content improvements, helping brands maximize product visibility and conversion rates. 2.3.4 Collaboration and Compliance Cross-Functional Collaboration: Facilitates collaboration between teams, ensuring that all stakeholders contribute to and access up-to-date product information. Compliance and Quality Checks: Automates compliance checks and quality control, ensuring product listings meet channel-specific requirements and brand standards. 2.3.5 Global Reach with Local Precision Multi-Lingual Support: Offers capabilities to manage and publish product content in multiple languages, supporting global brands in localizing their digital presence. Cultural Adaptation: Customizes product experiences to reflect local tastes and preferences, enhancing consumer engagement in diverse markets. 2.4 Stibo Systems Stibo STEP is a comprehensive Master Data Management (MDM) platform by Stibo Systems designed to empower organizations with the ability to manage, centralize, and share their operational data effective It is engineered to support businesses in enhancing customer experiences, driving growth, and facilitating digital transformation through superior data management. 2.4.1 Centralized Data Management Consolidates Master Data: The consolidation is done across domains such as products, customers, suppliers, and assets into a single, authoritative system. It ensures consistency, accuracy, and accessibility of critical business information. Data Quality and Governance: Implements robust data governance policies to maintain data quality and compliance. Flexible Data Modeling: Offers flexible data modeling capabilities that adapt to business-specific requirements. Supports multidomain master data management, allowing businesses to manage multiple data domains (for example, product, customer, supplier) within a single platform. 2.4.2 Integration and Syndication Seamless Integration: It seamlessly integrates with existing business systems (ERP, CRM, ecommerce platforms) through robust APIs and connectors. Also, it facilitates the syndication of consistent and accurate data across internal and external channels, marketplaces, and digital touchpoints. Scalability and Performance: Engineered to scale with business growth, capable of handling large volumes of data across global operations. High-performance architecture ensures swift data processing and responsiveness. 2.4.3 Analytics and Reporting Insightful Tools: Includes analytics and reporting tools to derive actionable insights from master data. Helps organizations make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date data. Proven Success: Features include data validation, cleansing, and deduplication to ensure the integrity of master data. 2.5 Pimberly Pimberly is a cloud-based product information management system that effortlessly bridges suppliers and distributors. It facilitates a seamless flow of accurate and engaging product information, propelling businesses towards digital excellence. Pimberly is a game-changer for online presence enrichment. 2.5.1 Centralized Data Management Unified Product Repository: Consolidates all product data into a single, accessible cloud platform, simplifying management and distribution. Automated Data Synchronization: Ensures real-time updates and consistency across all sales channels, eliminating data silos. 2.5.2 Speed to Market Rapid Product Launches: Accelerates the process of bringing new products to market with streamlined workflows and automated data handling. Global Market Readiness: Supports international expansion with multilingual and multicurrency data capabilities, making global commerce effortless. 2.5.3 Enhanced Online Experiences Rich Product Descriptions: Enables the creation of detailed and compelling product narratives that capture consumer interest. High-Quality Data Assurance: Focuses on maintaining the integrity and accuracy of product information, boosting consumer trust and conversion rates. 2.5.4 User-Friendly Interface Intuitive Design: Offers a straightforward, easy-to-navigate dashboard that reduces training time and increases productivity. Accessibility and Flexibility: Cloud-based nature allows for access from anywhere, providing flexibility to teams and facilitating remote collaboration. 2.5.5 Customer Engagement and Satisfaction Seamless Omnichannel Presence: Delivers consistent product experiences across all customer touchpoints, from online marketplaces to social media platforms. Data-Driven Insights: Empowers businesseswith actionable analytics to refine product strategies and enhance customer interactions. 2.6 Dynamicweb eCommerce Suite Dynamicweb's eCommerce Suite offers a holistic online business platform, blending PIM, CMS, and e-commerce functionalities. Its integration prowess with CRM and ERP systems, backed by a robust partner network, empowers brands to forge lasting customer relationships and drive growth. Here’s a breakdown of its core functionalities and benefits: 2.6.1 Unified Platform Cloud-Based Solution: Utilizes the latest in cloud technology to provide a scalable, secure, and accessible platform for businesses of all sizes. MACH Architecture: Built on modern principles, including Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless, ensuring flexibility and speed. 2.6.2 Advanced Integration Capabilities Open Integration Framework: Simplifies the integration process with CRM and ERP systems, notably with MS Dynamics suite, enhancing operational efficiency and data consistency. Supports Digital Business Processes: Facilitates various digital business operations, allowing for a unified approach to e-commerce, marketing, and sales. 2.6.3 Versatile Digital Marketing Tools Robust E-commerce Solutions: Offers comprehensive ecommerce capabilities, from product management to checkout optimization, tailored for B2B and B2C markets. Integrates advanced digital marketing features to engage customers across multiple channels. Dynamic Content Management: Provides powerful CMS features for creating and managing digital content with ease, enhancing the user experience. 2.6.4 Enhanced Customer Experiences Operational Efficiency: Streamlines business operations through integration and automation, reducing manual effort and errors. Delivers personalized customer journeys across all digital touchpoints. Revenue Growth: Supports businesses in their growth objectives by enhancing online visibility, customer engagement, and sales conversions. 2.7 Creative Force Creative Force is tailored to the high-volume demands of eCommerce content production. With a suite of automation tools and integrations, it streamlines the creation of top-notch eCommerce and editorial content, making it a go-to for leading brands seeking operational excellence in content management. Creative Force is trusted by global brands as it provides visibility and control over creative operations. Some of its key benefits are mentioned below: 2.7.1 Advanced Sample Management Tracking Production: Offers sophisticated tools for managing physical product samples through every stage of content production. Automated task assignments and progress tracking minimize bottlenecks. Status Updates: Barcode and RFID tracking for easy sample location and status updates. Integrated check-in and checkout processes to monitor sample movement. 2.7.2 eCommerce Content Production Efficient Planning: Streamlines the entire content production process from planning to publishing, ensuring timely and efficient project completion. Real-Time Updates: Centralized scheduling and tracking of all content production activities. Real-time updates and notifications to keep all team members aligned. 2.7.3 Workflow Automation Customizable Workflow Templates: Templates can match specific project requirements. Employs intelligent automation to optimize workflow efficiency and reduce manual intervention. Collaborative Tools: Shared workspaces and communication tools to foster a collaborative environment. Role-based access control to ensure secure and relevant data sharing. 2.7.4 Cloud-Based DAM Central repository: Provides a robust (DAM) system for organizing, storing, and retrieving digital assets. Central repository for all digital content assets, including images, videos, and documents. Advanced search capabilities and metadata tagging for quick asset retrieval. Software Integrations: Offers integration with industry-standard software and systems to enhance productivity and connectivity. Plug-and-play integration with eCommerce platforms, ERP systems, and creative software. API support for custom integrations to fit unique business needs. 2.8 censhare censhare unites DAM, PIM, and CMS into an omnichannel content management powerhouse. It enables precise audience targeting across diverse channels and geographies, bolstering business growth. Favored by industry heavyweights, censhare adapts to workflows, enhancing operational efficiency. This advanced solution empowers businesses to deliver precisely targeted messages to diverse audiences across a wide range of channels, languages, and regions. 2.8.1 Integrated Platform Cohesive System: Combines DAM, PIM, and CMS into a singular system for streamlined content and product information management. Digital Asset Management: Centralizes and manages digital assets, facilitating easy access, sharing, and distribution of multimedia content. 2.8.2 Market Responsiveness Agile Content Management: Facilitates quick adaptation to market changes and consumer trends through agile content management and distribution capabilities. Consistent Brand Messaging: Ensures uniform brand representation across all channels, enhancing brand recognition and customer loyalty. 2.8.3 Content Management System Pro-Engagement: Allows for the creation, management, and optimization of content, enhancing engagement and interaction with target audiences. Product Information Management: Offers robust tools for managing detailed product information, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all sales and marketing channels. 2.8.4 Omnichannel Delivery Consistent Experience: Enables organizations to craft and distribute personalized content across various channels, ensuring a consistent and engaging customer experience. Designed to fit seamlessly into existing business processes, censhare can be customized to meet the unique needs and workflows of any organization. Global Reach: Supports multiple languages and regional adaptations, making it suitable for global companies looking to connect with audiences worldwide. Grows with your business, accommodating expanding product lines, entering new markets, and evolving marketing strategies. 2.9 Brandquad Brandquad offers a PXM platform that simplifies product content lifecycle management. It equips brand manufacturers with tools for strategizing, creating, and optimizing product content, ensuring exceptional digital marketplace performances. It caters specifically to the needs of brand manufacturers aiming for digital excellence and stands out for its robust capabilities and user-friendly interface. 2.9.1 Centralized PIM Unified Data Hub: Centralizes all product information, offering a single source of truth for brand manufacturers. Smooth Integration: Easily integrates with ERP, CRM, and ecommerce platforms, ensuring data consistency across all systems. 2.9.2 Digital Asset Management Asset Linking: Connects product information with relevant digital assets for a cohesive content strategy. Rich Media Support: Manages a wide array of digital formats, from images and videos to PDFs and presentations. Features advanced search and tagging capabilities. 2.9.3 Product Data Syndication Broad Distribution: Enables the publication of enriched product data across multiple channels and formats. Ensures product information is consistently updated and accurate across all digital touchpoints. Marketplace Adaptability: Customizes content to meet the specific requirements of various online marketplaces and retail sites. 2.9.4 Ecommerce Intelligence Performance Analytics: Delivers in-depth insights into product content performance on the digital shelf. Enables brands to make informed decisions based on actionable data and analytics. Competitive Benchmarking: Analyzes market trends and competitor performance to optimize product positioning and strategy. Provides the tools and insights needed for brands to stand out in highly competitive marketplaces. 2.10 Netcore Unbxd PIM Netcore Unbxd PIM harnesses AI to deliver unparalleled product information accuracy. As a central repository for all product data, it streamlines ecommerce operations, enhancing shopper experiences and boosting conversions. This powerful tool is not just about managing data; it's about leveraging information to create exciting, accurate, and engaging product narratives that captivate customers and lead to successful conversions. 2.10.1 Centralized Data Repository Product Information Hub: Eliminates data silos by aggregating product data in one accessible location. AI-Powered Data Accuracy: Leverages advanced AI algorithms to maintain the highest levels of data integrity and accuracy. Automatically enriches product listings with detailed, accurate descriptions. 2.10.2 Efficient Data Management Optimized Data: Simplifies the complexities of product information management, from import to publication. Facilitates easy import and bulk editing of product information, saving time and resources. Enhances searchability and discoverability of products through optimized data. Superior CX: Allows for the quick rollout of product updates across multiple channels simultaneously. Ensures that customers have access to detailed, accurate, and consistent product information. 2.10.3 Robust Integration Unified Commerce Experience: Effectively connects with ecommerce platforms, marketplaces, and ERP systems. Enables a unified commerce experience by integrating with existing business systems. Streamlines workflows and reduces the need for manual data entry. Analytics and Insights: Offers detailed analytics and reporting features to monitor and optimize product performance. Tracks product performance across different channels to identify trends and opportunities. Provides actionable insights to improve product listings and marketing strategies. 3 Envisioning the Future of PIM Strategy The progression of PIM software is a testament to the dynamism of its technology and its adaptive applications. Its future trajectory is poised to significantly refine how businesses manage their product information with a slew of cutting-edge enhancements. One can anticipate more sophisticated integrative features in the best PIM software, where seamless synchronization with other critical business systems, such as ERP and CRM solutions, becomes a standard. This fosters more streamlined and effective exchanges of data across various sectors and sales conduits. The infusion of AI and machine learning into PIM is set to redefine the efficiency of data management operations. These technologies promise to introduce automation in routine data tasks, refine the accuracy of the data, and underpin predictive analytics, all contributing to improved consistency of product data. As decision-making increasingly becomes data-centric, PIM tools are expected to be at the forefront, ensuring the integrity and uniformity of product data, which is indispensable for sound governance. Advanced PIM systems are increasingly moving towards enhancing customer experiences with tailored personalization. By customizing product information to align with individual customer preferences, PIM solutions are envisioned to significantly boost customer satisfaction and foster loyalty. Additionally, with the global expansion of businesses, PIM tools will become more versatile, accommodating a multitude of languages and currencies, and accommodating local market regulations, thus enabling effective global market penetration. PIM systems will also likely expand their capabilities in analytics and reporting, providing businesses with more nuanced insights into product performance and consumer trends, which are vital for shaping strategic decisions. The commitment of PIM tools to support an omnichannel approach will also remain critical, ensuring coherent product information is accessible across all customer engagement points. In an era where consumers are increasingly demanding transparency in product sourcing and sustainability, PIM systems are expected to become a trusted platform for communicating such information, strengthening the bond with socially responsible consumers. PIM software are becoming more deeply ingrained in the fabric of business operations, adapting to ongoing digital shifts, managing the growing complexity of product information, and catering to the increasing consumer appetite for tailored, transparent, and fluid customer experiences.

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POS Solutions, POS Retail

How To Avoid Overpaying On Your POS Processing Fees

Article | January 12, 2024

Running a small business requires a tight eye on profits. More than likely, you will face scenarios in which you incur higher transaction fees you didn’t expect and could have avoided in the first place. Knowing how to navigate processing fees is a key part of your success. Whether you run a single location, a multi-location business, or even a mobile business, avoiding unnecessary fees should be part of the game plan. Unfortunately, less-than-reputable POS providers are out there, and understanding fees associated with taking payment from customers isn’t easy, but knowing what to look for will help. In this article, we cover fees to keep an eye on and how to save more on your processing fees. How To Avoid Paying Unnecessary Credit Card Processing Fees Unfortunately, if you want to accept credit and debit cards as a form of payment in your business, you’re going to experience processing fees. The financial benefits outweigh the transaction costs, but you can still save some money on your POS system and credit card processing. Negotiate Your Processing Fees The reason it can be so hard to understand the actual cost of processing fees is that many merchant service providers bury fees in the fine print, and these fees can come back to haunt you. In general, the more upfront a company is about all its charges, the more trustworthy and reliable they are because they have nothing to hide, and typically those rates will be fair. But it also helps to keep an eye on certain aspects of a contract. You can then negotiate them or repackage services to boost your profits. Transaction Fees: Choose The Right Plan When setting up your contract, you are given the option of a range of credit card pricing plans. Here are three of the most common pricing models. Interchange Plus Fee Pricing This option offers different transaction rates for different card types, bank issuers, methods of transactions, and more. By understanding these fees when processing transactions, you can benefit financially by encouraging the usage of certain cards or procedures that are least costly. Tiered Pricing In this scenario, you are charged different rates for different tiers created by your provider. It’s important to evaluate this option carefully because most transactions can fall into a less favorable tier rate. Flat-fee Structure Pricing This fee allows for one charge for card-present (CP) transactions and another for card-not-present (CNP) transactions, regardless of card type. This predictable, one-rate pricing model is easy to follow, allowing you to encourage a lower cents-per-transaction option and formulate special pricing deals. However flat-rate can sometimes come out as more expensive than interchange-plus pricing. How To Avoid Monthly PCI Compliance Charges A semi-regular fee many merchants run into is not falling in line with PCI Compliant in how they handle payment information. Being PCI compliant means maintaining important standards for customer data protection, and it is taken seriously. Compliance is required for major credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard and is becoming more popular as businesses continue to shift to online sales. Rule enforcement is most often the responsibility of payment processing companies. Your provider will charge you two fees: a PCI compliance fee – which is once a year – and a PCI non-compliance fee – which occurs every month you have not completed your yearly PCI Compliance audit. Providers are free to charge however much they like for each service, and it can range anywhere between $30-$99 a month. Monthly charges are done both directly or indirectly via higher monthly fees, processing rates, or both. In some cases, the charges begin months after originally signing up with the processors hoping you won’t keep a close eye on all your ongoing processing fees. As a merchant service provider, we at BNG Point-Of-Sale have a long and reliable history in helping our customers practice PCI Compliance within their business and avoid non-compliance fees. PCI Compliance is necessary and it does require some work by the processors, so the charges aren’t a hoax, but there are some ways to keep costs down: You can take on the responsibility of PCI Compliance yourself and forgo the processor’s fee; however, you will be on your own if issues arise. In today’s world of increasing e-commerce, it’s not recommended. You can prevent the risk of non-compliance fees by working with companies that handle compliance internally. If they (not you) are the source of customer purchasing data, they are automatically in charge of it. Square and PayPal are examples of companies that handle all PCI Compliance, and we often account for these services when onboarding our customers and annually remind them to follow PCI Compliance. At first glance, it may appear you are not charged by these companies for compliance and non-compliance, but in reality, compliance is still built into the standard fee for service; you just won’t see it specified. Still, you won’t be responsible for non-compliance fees since they own the data and are fully responsible for it. The amount of compliance required of your business depends on how you take in payment and store customer data. Since processors have numerous clients and prefer not to get specific about it, they may charge a basic fee to cover most issues. This means you could be overpaying, so it’s a good area to evaluate this price of the packaged service vs. when it is priced individually. There may be companies that don’t charge for compliance, but they are rare and may be suspect. In most cases, any free compliance is covered with higher fees in other areas. How To Avoid Chargeback Fees Chargeback fees should be avoided since they are more expensive than traditional transaction fees – especially if you are categorized as a “high risk” client. The first step is to avoid chargebacks in the first place. Chargebacks can be the result of sales errors by you and your team, a misunderstanding by the customer, or the result of identity theft. Here are some ways to combat each. Reduce Transaction Errors Know when to stop a transaction. If an error occurs, push the cancel/hold button inside the transaction. If you are unable to do this, the transaction has already been claimed by the processing company. Accurately process credits as credits and sales as sales. Receive an Authorization Approval Code (AAC) before running a transaction. Before batching your credit card processing at the end of the day, review all charges to verify all charges are correct and not duplicated. Keeping this as an active daily routine can prevent costly mistakes. Ensure shipped items arrive to the customer to avoid disputes. Select the “ship product to billing address” to alleviate data error. Keep Records Of Voids Provide records to your customer of any proof of voids and include companion documentation for any disputes showing details of each purchase. Decrease Risk Of Theft If your processor charges more for card-not-present transactions, which most do, it’s because the risk of theft is higher. By requiring a driver’s license and signature and doing manually keyed-in card payments in person rather than over the phone, you lower the risk and enjoy lower charges per transaction. Try to avoid non-qualified processing (when a card isn’t present or keyed or is missing billing information.) This type of processing is considered a high-risk factor, and processors charge accordingly. When Possible, Run Orders On Debit Cards Debit cards are considered a lower risk than credit cards and, in turn, the transaction rates are quite a bit less. This has mostly to do with the fact the purchase is a direct bank-to-bank transaction, but other factors make a difference such as PIN verification and signature requirements, bringing these purchases into a lower risk category. And typically the rates hold. You will still experience rate differences among debit cards related to how the purchases are conducted and who the issuing bank is. Special incentives such as loyalty programs for debit card users help to easily boost profits. A Final Thought On Keeping Processing Fees Low As you can see, several variables can affect your processing rates. From fines to the pricing model your merchant service provider recommends, there’s a lot to consider. As tempting as it can be to just try and find the cheapest option, be careful going with the lowest bidder. Remember, all POS and payment processing providers have to make some money to cover the costs of support their merchants. If you choose a processor with incredibly low fees, you run the risk of getting what you pay for when it comes to supporting your business. If you’re not sure if you’re overpaying on your processing fees and want a free analysis, let our team review your current monthly statements and we’ll let you know if you’re getting a good deal or not.

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POS Solutions

Plunge in digital ad prices opens spending opportunity for start-ups in gaming, e-commerce and online education

Article | March 18, 2024

The coronavirus epidemic has so ravaged travel, live entertainment and physical retail that companies across those industries have frozen their marketing, causing ad prices to plunge. Meanwhile, online beauty brand Insert Name Here is generating so much business that it’s snapping up ad space at a discount. Based in Los Angeles, Insert Name Here sells hair extensions and wigs, which are in high demand now that women are unable to visit their hairstylists. To reach all those consumers who are stuck at home, Insert Name Here is working with social media influencers to create do-it-yourself styling videos for Instagram as well as Facebook, Tik Tok, Snapchat and YouTube.

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EU and US apparel consumption could fall by 300 billion US dollars in 2020

Article | April 13, 2020

Most European countries and the United States have been in lockdown since mid-March due to the Covid 19 pandemic, and brick and mortar stores have been closed accordingly. Although online retail continues, it is proving difficult due to falling consumer spending, transport issues and disruptions of the supply chain. A forecast by Indian management consulting company Wazir Advisors, which focuses specifically on the apparel sector, predicts a decline in apparel consumption in 2020 of 45 percent in the EU and 40 percent in the US, which could lead to a reduction by 300 billion US dollars (around 274 billion euros or close to 240 British pounds).

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Spotlight

Lamps Plus

Lamps Plus is the nation's largest specialty lighting retailer. Founded in 1976, the Los Angeles based privately held company maintains a thriving e-commerce site and operates more than three dozen retail stores across the western United States.

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POS Retail

Assembly Acquires PipeCandy, a Leading eCommerce Market Data and Intelligence Provider

Assembly | April 26, 2022

Assembly announced the acquisition of PipeCandy. Assembly is an eCommerce software platform with a global footprint that powers market-leading products such as Helium 10, Pacvue, and Refersion. PipeCandy is the global leader in vertical DaaS and market intelligence, tracking information on 5.4 million online businesses. "With PipeCandy, we now unlock a 360-degree view of eCcommerce performance of brands. As a result, PipeCandy has the best data set on DTC eCommerce in the industry and Assembly is now poised to be the authority of omni-channel eCommerce market intelligence." Ben Collier, Head of Product at Assembly PipeCandy analyzes the worldwide direct-to-consumer market's complex data sets and provides actionable insights to marketers, investors, analysts, and sales teams at top logistics, technology, and financial organizations. Ashwin Ramasamy, the co-founder of PipeCandy, said, "We quintupled our coverage through 2021 and our customers include some of the most prominent companies and brands in the lending, financial services, SaaS, and logistics industries. Being a product in the Assembly platform will allow us to solidify our position as the largest, cleanest and most accurate dataset on eCommerce and DTC companies, and scale our product and business insight offerings for brands and eCommerce operators." Along with the purchase, PipeCandy recently opened a first-of-its-kind Data Center of Excellence, where product managers, data scientists, data UI designers, and application developers collaborate to swiftly develop omnichannel insight solutions.

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POS Retail

Neiman Marcus Group Celebrates Earth Month with In-Store Activations and Speaking Events Reinforcing its 2025 ESG Goals

Neiman Marcus Group | April 23, 2022

To celebrate Earth Month, Neiman Marcus Group is proud to announce new initiatives, partnerships, and in-store activations that will further the organization's continued progress against its Environmental Social Governance (ESG) strategy, Our Journey to Revolutionize Impact. "We are on a journey to revolutionize impact, and this includes setting meaningful ESG goals. The fashion industry must take steps toward a commitment to ESG and transparency to consumers, stakeholders, and the government. We are proud to join hands with our brand partners and other organizations to increase awareness and inspire action within our industry. As we move closer to our 2025 goals outlined in our recent ESG report, we look forward to continuing the momentum we've made to minimize the impact of how we serve our clients through our digital channels, stores, and supply chain, as well as the experiences we create and the products we sell." Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer, Neiman Marcus Group As part of its efforts to reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 50% by 2025 and procure 100% renewable energy use by 2030, this month, NMG partnered with Trane® by Trane Technologies to replace natural gas-powered chillers with two new 500-ton water-cooled Trane® chillers at their iconic Bergdorf Goodman's Women's Store, located in the heart of New York City's famed retail district. This installation utilized innovative, energy-efficient decarbonization technology that enabled the retailer to eliminate natural gas use, electrify the building, and procure a new renewable energy contract to power the store's operations. The move will contribute to New York City's goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while keeping shoppers cool and comfortable. Meanwhile, Neiman Marcus stores across the U.S. are driving progress toward the company's goal to partner with customers to raise an additional $3,000,000 for Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation grantees through point-of-sale (POS) fundraising. In March, the retailer began a POS fundraising campaign for the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) that invites customers and associates to donate in-store and online through April 30. Proceeds from the campaign will fund creating a new NMG x FSF scholarship for students aspiring to careers in sustainable and ethical fashion. The effort has raised enough money to fund at least seven NMG x FSF scholars in the partnership's first year. As NMG seeks to increase revenue from sustainable and ethical products by 2025, it is also proud to announce the upcoming launch of the new 'Fashioned for Change' and 'Conscious Curation' edits at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. These edits will identify items with preferred product attributes made with sustainable materials, including bio-based vegan leathers, as well as products that are responsibly manufactured, give back philanthropically, are made by diverse-owned brands, or promote enhanced transparency through digital product passports from groups like EON. Products from participating brand partners will be highlighted on NeimanMarcus.com and BergdorfGoodman.com and will be considered for exposure in highly visible placements via in-store and digital channels. To explore the new 'Fashioned for Change' edit at Neiman Marcus, visit here. The 'Conscious Curation' edit at Bergdorf Goodman will launch in the upcoming months. NMG will be hosting and sponsoring a variety of speaking events throughout the month to socialize the efforts above with associates, customers, and the broader fashion industry. To build on last year's conversation with Elizabeth Cline, author of 'The Conscious Closet,' NMG is hosting an all-associate event on April 26 with Aja Barber, author of 'Consumed.' This talk will take a deep dive into Barber's book, which explores the intersection of climate change, colonialism, and consumerism in the fashion industry. Customers near Neiman Marcus Northbrook in Chicago will also be invited to attend a panel discussion on social and environmental issues facing the fashion industry and its next generation of talent with industry trailblazer Eileen Fisher and Melissa Gamble, a professor at Columbia College of Chicago – an FSF member school. Finally, to continue educating and amplifying the call for sustainable practices in the broader industry, NMG is excited to sponsor the Women's Wear Daily Sustainability Summit and the Sustainable Fashion Forum fireside chat, which will be held this month. NMG executives will host panels and fireside chats about topics surrounding circularity in fashion, fur and leather alternatives, the role of technology in sustainability, and more, along with innovators in the space from pioneering organizations like FASHIONPHILE, Prota Fiori, and EON. About The Neiman Marcus Group, LLC Neiman Marcus Group is a relationship business that leads with love in everything we do for our customers, associates, brand partners, and communities. Our legacy of innovating and our culture of Belonging guide our roadmap for Revolutionizing Luxury Experiences. As one of the largest multi-brand luxury retailers in the U.S., with the world's most desirable brand partners, we're delivering exceptional products and intelligent services, enabled by our investments in data and technology. Through the expertise of our 9,000+ associates, we deliver and scale a personalized luxury experience across our three channels of in-store, eCommerce, and remote selling. Our NMG|Way culture, powered by our people, combines individual talents into a collective strength to make life extraordinary. Our brands include Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and Horchow. About Trane Technologies Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands, Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes, and transportation. We have also set bold 2030 Sustainability Commitments for ourselves and our customers. Through our Gigaton Challenge, we have committed to reducing our customers' carbon emissions by one gigaton or, one billion metric tons by the year 2030. About Trane Trane by Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator – creates comfortable, energy-efficient indoor environments for commercial and residential applications.

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POS Solutions

Rezolve and Computop Announce Strategic Partnership on Mobile Engagement and Payments

Rezolve | April 22, 2022

Rezolve, a leader in mobile commerce and engagement, and Computop, a leading payment service provider, today announced a strategic partnership agreement to combine their respective strengths in mobile engagement and payment processing to improve service for users of both globally. As part of the agreement, Computop will offer Rezolve’s technology to its more than 15,000 global clients, providing them with new mobile engagement and commerce tools. Rezolve, an enterprise SaaS platform designed from the ground up specifically for mobile commerce and engagement, is positioned to become the engine of mobile engagement that enables the transformation of interactions between consumers and merchants on mobile devices. Computop helps retailers and service providers to process their omnichannel payments securely and conveniently worldwide and was the first payment service provider in Germany, and among the first globally, to obtain PCI P2PE certification, or Point-to-Point Encryption certification. “We are excited to announce this partnership with Computop, a German leader in payment services around the world. This represents a great opportunity for Rezolve to extend our mobile engagement technology to their impressive list of clients around the world.” Dan Wagner, Rezolve’s Chairman and CEO Computop’s large international merchant and global marketplace partners are in industries such as retail, mobility, travel and gaming. Global customers include C&A, Fossil, Metro, Rakuten, Samsung, SIXT and Swarovski. Computop focuses on global omnichannel payment, fraud prevention, global POS, global e-commerce, in-app payments, local payments worldwide, risk management, reconciliation and accounting solutions. "For Computop this is exciting because our business model depends on the success of our customers,” said Ralf Gladis, founder and CEO of Computop. “We believe that our merchants can be more successful if they can reach out to customers with Rezolve. With Rezolve’s mobile technology our merchants will be able to trigger their customers wherever they are.” After buying EOS Payments from Otto Group in 2013, Computop now processes payments for all 100 Otto retail brands. In cooperation with its network of partners, which it has expanded over many years, Computop offers a comprehensive omnichannel solution that is geared to the needs of today's market and provides merchants with seamlessly integrated payment processes. Computop’s Shop modules provide worry-free integration with shop systems like Salesforce/Demandware, SAP hybris, Intershop, Magento, Oxid, Shopware, Spryker, and 20 others. With Rezolve, merchants can lead consumers directly to special offers by using mobile technology including geofencing, notifications on smartphones, Bluetooth beacons, or with watermarked advertisements. Rezolve currently has go-to-market partner agreements with leading global players that have a combined global reach of over 20 million merchants and over 1 billion consumers across China, Asia and Europe. Rezolve’s platform already serves over 196,000 of those merchants today. For Computop customers the partnership means it will be easy to use Rezolve, because their payment processing is already integrated with Rezolve’s technology. Thousands of Computop customers can now easily use Rezolve. Meanwhile, for Rezolve, the Computop Paygate is a payment platform that offers access to more than 60 acquirers worldwide. Therefore, merchants can use their existing acquiring contracts for credit cards. About Rezolve Rezolve is taking retailing into a new era of customer engagement with a proprietary mobile engagement platform. The Rezolve Platform is a powerful set of mobile commerce and engagement capabilities that provide mobile application vendors with a range of valuable commercial opportunities that can be realized without having to develop code, host operations or manage security. The Rezolve Inside SDK allows mobile application vendors to quickly deliver innovation for their consumers into existing or new mobile apps. Rezolve was founded in 2016, is headquartered in London, UK and has offices in China, India, Taiwan, Germany, Spain and Mexico. About Computop As one of the very first payment service providers, Computop offers its customers around the world local and innovative omnichannel solutions for payment processing and fraud prevention. The internally developed Computop Paygate payment platform enables seamless integrated payment processes for e-commerce, at POS and on mobile devices. Retailers and service providers have the flexibility and freedom to choose from over 350 payment methods enabling them to specifically tailor their payment options per country. Technologies such as biometric authentication and self-learning algorithms improve security and convenience for retailers and consumers alike.

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POS Retail

Assembly Acquires PipeCandy, a Leading eCommerce Market Data and Intelligence Provider

Assembly | April 26, 2022

Assembly announced the acquisition of PipeCandy. Assembly is an eCommerce software platform with a global footprint that powers market-leading products such as Helium 10, Pacvue, and Refersion. PipeCandy is the global leader in vertical DaaS and market intelligence, tracking information on 5.4 million online businesses. "With PipeCandy, we now unlock a 360-degree view of eCcommerce performance of brands. As a result, PipeCandy has the best data set on DTC eCommerce in the industry and Assembly is now poised to be the authority of omni-channel eCommerce market intelligence." Ben Collier, Head of Product at Assembly PipeCandy analyzes the worldwide direct-to-consumer market's complex data sets and provides actionable insights to marketers, investors, analysts, and sales teams at top logistics, technology, and financial organizations. Ashwin Ramasamy, the co-founder of PipeCandy, said, "We quintupled our coverage through 2021 and our customers include some of the most prominent companies and brands in the lending, financial services, SaaS, and logistics industries. Being a product in the Assembly platform will allow us to solidify our position as the largest, cleanest and most accurate dataset on eCommerce and DTC companies, and scale our product and business insight offerings for brands and eCommerce operators." Along with the purchase, PipeCandy recently opened a first-of-its-kind Data Center of Excellence, where product managers, data scientists, data UI designers, and application developers collaborate to swiftly develop omnichannel insight solutions.

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POS Retail

Neiman Marcus Group Celebrates Earth Month with In-Store Activations and Speaking Events Reinforcing its 2025 ESG Goals

Neiman Marcus Group | April 23, 2022

To celebrate Earth Month, Neiman Marcus Group is proud to announce new initiatives, partnerships, and in-store activations that will further the organization's continued progress against its Environmental Social Governance (ESG) strategy, Our Journey to Revolutionize Impact. "We are on a journey to revolutionize impact, and this includes setting meaningful ESG goals. The fashion industry must take steps toward a commitment to ESG and transparency to consumers, stakeholders, and the government. We are proud to join hands with our brand partners and other organizations to increase awareness and inspire action within our industry. As we move closer to our 2025 goals outlined in our recent ESG report, we look forward to continuing the momentum we've made to minimize the impact of how we serve our clients through our digital channels, stores, and supply chain, as well as the experiences we create and the products we sell." Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer, Neiman Marcus Group As part of its efforts to reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 50% by 2025 and procure 100% renewable energy use by 2030, this month, NMG partnered with Trane® by Trane Technologies to replace natural gas-powered chillers with two new 500-ton water-cooled Trane® chillers at their iconic Bergdorf Goodman's Women's Store, located in the heart of New York City's famed retail district. This installation utilized innovative, energy-efficient decarbonization technology that enabled the retailer to eliminate natural gas use, electrify the building, and procure a new renewable energy contract to power the store's operations. The move will contribute to New York City's goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while keeping shoppers cool and comfortable. Meanwhile, Neiman Marcus stores across the U.S. are driving progress toward the company's goal to partner with customers to raise an additional $3,000,000 for Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation grantees through point-of-sale (POS) fundraising. In March, the retailer began a POS fundraising campaign for the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) that invites customers and associates to donate in-store and online through April 30. Proceeds from the campaign will fund creating a new NMG x FSF scholarship for students aspiring to careers in sustainable and ethical fashion. The effort has raised enough money to fund at least seven NMG x FSF scholars in the partnership's first year. As NMG seeks to increase revenue from sustainable and ethical products by 2025, it is also proud to announce the upcoming launch of the new 'Fashioned for Change' and 'Conscious Curation' edits at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. These edits will identify items with preferred product attributes made with sustainable materials, including bio-based vegan leathers, as well as products that are responsibly manufactured, give back philanthropically, are made by diverse-owned brands, or promote enhanced transparency through digital product passports from groups like EON. Products from participating brand partners will be highlighted on NeimanMarcus.com and BergdorfGoodman.com and will be considered for exposure in highly visible placements via in-store and digital channels. To explore the new 'Fashioned for Change' edit at Neiman Marcus, visit here. The 'Conscious Curation' edit at Bergdorf Goodman will launch in the upcoming months. NMG will be hosting and sponsoring a variety of speaking events throughout the month to socialize the efforts above with associates, customers, and the broader fashion industry. To build on last year's conversation with Elizabeth Cline, author of 'The Conscious Closet,' NMG is hosting an all-associate event on April 26 with Aja Barber, author of 'Consumed.' This talk will take a deep dive into Barber's book, which explores the intersection of climate change, colonialism, and consumerism in the fashion industry. Customers near Neiman Marcus Northbrook in Chicago will also be invited to attend a panel discussion on social and environmental issues facing the fashion industry and its next generation of talent with industry trailblazer Eileen Fisher and Melissa Gamble, a professor at Columbia College of Chicago – an FSF member school. Finally, to continue educating and amplifying the call for sustainable practices in the broader industry, NMG is excited to sponsor the Women's Wear Daily Sustainability Summit and the Sustainable Fashion Forum fireside chat, which will be held this month. NMG executives will host panels and fireside chats about topics surrounding circularity in fashion, fur and leather alternatives, the role of technology in sustainability, and more, along with innovators in the space from pioneering organizations like FASHIONPHILE, Prota Fiori, and EON. About The Neiman Marcus Group, LLC Neiman Marcus Group is a relationship business that leads with love in everything we do for our customers, associates, brand partners, and communities. Our legacy of innovating and our culture of Belonging guide our roadmap for Revolutionizing Luxury Experiences. As one of the largest multi-brand luxury retailers in the U.S., with the world's most desirable brand partners, we're delivering exceptional products and intelligent services, enabled by our investments in data and technology. Through the expertise of our 9,000+ associates, we deliver and scale a personalized luxury experience across our three channels of in-store, eCommerce, and remote selling. Our NMG|Way culture, powered by our people, combines individual talents into a collective strength to make life extraordinary. Our brands include Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and Horchow. About Trane Technologies Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands, Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes, and transportation. We have also set bold 2030 Sustainability Commitments for ourselves and our customers. Through our Gigaton Challenge, we have committed to reducing our customers' carbon emissions by one gigaton or, one billion metric tons by the year 2030. About Trane Trane by Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator – creates comfortable, energy-efficient indoor environments for commercial and residential applications.

Read More

POS Solutions

Rezolve and Computop Announce Strategic Partnership on Mobile Engagement and Payments

Rezolve | April 22, 2022

Rezolve, a leader in mobile commerce and engagement, and Computop, a leading payment service provider, today announced a strategic partnership agreement to combine their respective strengths in mobile engagement and payment processing to improve service for users of both globally. As part of the agreement, Computop will offer Rezolve’s technology to its more than 15,000 global clients, providing them with new mobile engagement and commerce tools. Rezolve, an enterprise SaaS platform designed from the ground up specifically for mobile commerce and engagement, is positioned to become the engine of mobile engagement that enables the transformation of interactions between consumers and merchants on mobile devices. Computop helps retailers and service providers to process their omnichannel payments securely and conveniently worldwide and was the first payment service provider in Germany, and among the first globally, to obtain PCI P2PE certification, or Point-to-Point Encryption certification. “We are excited to announce this partnership with Computop, a German leader in payment services around the world. This represents a great opportunity for Rezolve to extend our mobile engagement technology to their impressive list of clients around the world.” Dan Wagner, Rezolve’s Chairman and CEO Computop’s large international merchant and global marketplace partners are in industries such as retail, mobility, travel and gaming. Global customers include C&A, Fossil, Metro, Rakuten, Samsung, SIXT and Swarovski. Computop focuses on global omnichannel payment, fraud prevention, global POS, global e-commerce, in-app payments, local payments worldwide, risk management, reconciliation and accounting solutions. "For Computop this is exciting because our business model depends on the success of our customers,” said Ralf Gladis, founder and CEO of Computop. “We believe that our merchants can be more successful if they can reach out to customers with Rezolve. With Rezolve’s mobile technology our merchants will be able to trigger their customers wherever they are.” After buying EOS Payments from Otto Group in 2013, Computop now processes payments for all 100 Otto retail brands. In cooperation with its network of partners, which it has expanded over many years, Computop offers a comprehensive omnichannel solution that is geared to the needs of today's market and provides merchants with seamlessly integrated payment processes. Computop’s Shop modules provide worry-free integration with shop systems like Salesforce/Demandware, SAP hybris, Intershop, Magento, Oxid, Shopware, Spryker, and 20 others. With Rezolve, merchants can lead consumers directly to special offers by using mobile technology including geofencing, notifications on smartphones, Bluetooth beacons, or with watermarked advertisements. Rezolve currently has go-to-market partner agreements with leading global players that have a combined global reach of over 20 million merchants and over 1 billion consumers across China, Asia and Europe. Rezolve’s platform already serves over 196,000 of those merchants today. For Computop customers the partnership means it will be easy to use Rezolve, because their payment processing is already integrated with Rezolve’s technology. Thousands of Computop customers can now easily use Rezolve. Meanwhile, for Rezolve, the Computop Paygate is a payment platform that offers access to more than 60 acquirers worldwide. Therefore, merchants can use their existing acquiring contracts for credit cards. About Rezolve Rezolve is taking retailing into a new era of customer engagement with a proprietary mobile engagement platform. The Rezolve Platform is a powerful set of mobile commerce and engagement capabilities that provide mobile application vendors with a range of valuable commercial opportunities that can be realized without having to develop code, host operations or manage security. The Rezolve Inside SDK allows mobile application vendors to quickly deliver innovation for their consumers into existing or new mobile apps. Rezolve was founded in 2016, is headquartered in London, UK and has offices in China, India, Taiwan, Germany, Spain and Mexico. About Computop As one of the very first payment service providers, Computop offers its customers around the world local and innovative omnichannel solutions for payment processing and fraud prevention. The internally developed Computop Paygate payment platform enables seamless integrated payment processes for e-commerce, at POS and on mobile devices. Retailers and service providers have the flexibility and freedom to choose from over 350 payment methods enabling them to specifically tailor their payment options per country. Technologies such as biometric authentication and self-learning algorithms improve security and convenience for retailers and consumers alike.

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